Rope and cable grip.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

R. SGHI I TZ. ROPE AND CABLE GRIP.

APPLICATIO N FILED MAR-13, 1908.

IRS co, WISHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFroE.

ROBERT SOHUTZ, OF LEIPZIG EUTRITZSOH, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ABOLFBLEIGHERT & COMPANY, OF LEIPZIG-GOHLIS, GERMANY.

ROPE AND CABLE GRIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 13, 1908.

Patented June 23, 1908.

Serial No. 420,950.

Which is being hauled, have the disadvantage that when the trolley istraveling on a steep gradient the action of the hauling rope causes thefront and rear trolley wheels to be unequally loaded, and the grippingaction is reduced by the inclined position of the trolley relatively tothe load, since in this position only a component of the weight acts onthe grip-actuating mechanism, and the hauling rope is therefore notgripped with the same amount of force as when the trolley is travelingon a horizontal track.

The present invention consists in obtaining increased gripping action ongradients, witlrimiform load on the trolley wheels, by arrangingabutments on the trolley or hanger, so placed that the swaying of thehanger relatively to the trolley is limited, so that the tendency of thehanger, on steep gradients, to sway beyond the limit fixed, causes thegripping action to be increased proportionally to the steepness of thegradient. This arrangement allows of working on gradients far exceeding45 degrees, with the same security as when working on a horizontaltrack. At the same time the load on the wheels is kept practicallyuniform, since the inclined hanger throws additional load on the trolleywheel which is relieved by the action of the hauling rope.

A construction embodying the invention is shown in the annexed drawing,which represents a grip coupling the trolley to a hauling rope below therail-rope or cable.

- Figure 1 illustrates one form of the trolley in side elevationsuspended from a horizontal rope. Fig. 2 shows the same trolleysuspended from an inclined rope. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show modifiedconstructions of abutments.

The two wheels (1 are connected to each other by a frame I from which issuspended the hanger c which carries the load, the hanger beingrotatable about a pivot e located above the grip d.

Two bars f are fixed to the frame, above the hanger, and abutments suchas screws g are adjustable in lugs at the lower ends of said bars, sothat the abutments can be adjusted according to the steepness of thegraclient at which they are to come into action. Instead of screws,adjustable springs or the like may be used as abutments. The adjustmentof the abutments for any particular gradient depends on the distance ofthe center of gravity of the load from the hauling rope and cable.

When the trolley is traveling on a steep gradient the suspended hangerbears against the abutment 9 adjacent the lower wheel a, and since theabutment limits the extent to which the hanger can rotate about thepivot e, the hanger assumes an inclined position. By this means theforce with which the grip engages the hauling rope is increased, owingto the movement of the load about the fulcrum formed by the abutment.

The construction illustrated may be modified in various ways. Instead ofhaving a separate vertical abutment-bar f at each end of thetrolley-frame, a single normally horizontal bar f 1 may be used, withabutments at its ends as in Fig. 3, or abutment-springs 9 may bedirectly connected to the frame as in Fig. 4. Instead of arranging theabutments on the frame they may be arranged on the hanger c as at) Fig.5. With suitable modifications the device may be applied to a gripengaging a hauling rope above the cable, or to a combination oftrolleys.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is The combination of a trolley, a hanger, a rope orcable grip actuated by the weight of a load suspended from the trolleyby means of the hanger, and abutments located with reference to saidtrolley and hanger to limit the swaying of the hanger relatively to thetrolley, when the latter is inclined beyond a predetermined amount, forthe purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ROBERT SCHUTZ.

Witnesses:

FRITZ v. KELLER, RUDOLF PFAFFENBAOH

